German thrash metal legends Sodom may be stepping away from the live circuit, but frontman Tom Angelripper (real name Thomas Such) has made it clear that the band’s creative engine is still running. In a recent interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, the bassist and vocalist discussed his ongoing songwriting process despite his recent decision to drastically cut back on touring.
When asked if he plans to keep writing new material while off the road, Angelripper confirmed that his musical output hasn’t slowed down.
“Oh, yes. I have a couple of new ideas for lyrics, and sometimes I come up with a guitar riff. And I take one of my bass guitars, recording some stuff… Sometimes I wake up in the night, I get some ideas for anything. I gotta write it down and put it on my computer,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Looking ahead, Angelripper revealed that the band still has obligations with their label, SPV, and that fans can expect a follow-up to their 2025 studio album, The Arsonist. He also highlighted the collaborative nature of their recent work, noting that drummer Toni Merkel has actively contributed to the band’s catalog.
“We have an option [for a new album] with [our longtime record label] SPV. That is another thing. They wanna have a new album. I don’t know when, but I think in the next one or two years we’re talking about a new album.”
“That’s what I do,” Tom said. “And also on the last album, [2025’s] The Arsonist, our drummer Toni [Merkel] had a couple of songs written on his album, which is great.
“Yes. I still have ideas,” he added.
The decision to halt touring was not made lightly. Speaking with “This Day In Metal” earlier this month, the 63-year-old musician explained that he wants to prioritize his personal life, family, and other projects, such as BMG re-releases and his passion for hunting.
“I have two kids. My daughter is 31, and my son is 28. So now I could spend more time with them and doing other things. I’m gonna do the re-releases for BMG. I also do some other things. I start writing new lyrics. I have new ideas for new songs already. You never can stop it. The only thing I stop is touring and all that stuff.”
While he admitted it is “a shame” not to tour in support of The Arsonist, he acknowledged the grueling reality of constant travel. Despite the significant financial hit of missing out on the European festival circuit, Angelripper is at peace with his choice to step back and preserve his health.
“To make this decision to stop is always uncomfortable,” he explained. “It’s never a good time to stop. But nowadays, I enjoy my free time. I enjoy doing other things, like hunting and other stuff that I’m gonna do. And I don’t wanna set up any time schedule for the next [live show] I wanna do. Just being on tour, playing festivals and shows, it’s where the money’s coming from.”
“I know that we are gonna lose a lot of money because [we are not playing] all the festivals — just in Germany, we have 50 festivals around — and I know we’re gonna lose, I especially will lose a lot of money, but I don’t care,” Tom continued. “I’m 63 years old. I have to calm down a little bit doing other things. My doctor said, ‘You’re in a very good condition, but calm down a little bit. Do other things.’ But I know being on stage, it’s my life — it’s the biggest part of my life. But I don’t wanna waste so much time for traveling around. Sitting on airports and hotels, backstage. If you are at my age, you think about the next years, what you’re gonna do.”
